Legislation & Resolutions
Associated Students | San Diego State University

Resolution in Support of Gaza Ceasefire

Whereas San Diego State University's (SDSU) mission and vision "is to help to develop and inspire globally-conscious citizens. [And] envision an SDSU community that engages and impacts the border region and the world"[1] ;

Whereas SDSU promises equity and inclusion through "an innovative institutional infrastructure that promotes and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do: research, teaching, professional development, student experiences in and outside the classroom, and community relationships. Our values compel us to foster such an environment, where community members of all identities and ethnic backgrounds can thrive"[2] ;

Whereas SDSU "commits to protecting freedom of speech and encourages all members of the community to promote educational opportunities that appropriately address acts of intolerance around events that have separated us as a people"[3] ;

Whereas The San Diego State University Associated Students (the “Associated Students”) is a California non-profit public benefit corporation and student body organization and auxiliary organization of The San Diego State University subject to, among other laws, California Corporations Codes sections 5110, et seq., and California Education Code sections 89300, et seq. and 89900, et seq. 

Whereas The San Diego State University Associated Students promises "to support the mission of San Diego State University, we the Associated Students, create, promote and fund social, recreational, cultural, and educational programs and facilities both on campus and in the community, advocate for student interests, provide leadership opportunities and participate in shared governance"[4];

Whereas as such, the Associated Students, among other things, represents all of the students attending The San Diego State University who are of many and varied diverse nationalities, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds and promotes their intellectual, cultural, physical and social welfare and health;

Whereas as of February 2024, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the bombardment and siege of Gaza have reportedly killed 29,878 people, injured more than 70,215 and displaced 1.7 million persons since 7 October 2023[5]. Of those killed, over 16,000 are women and children[6]. On average, one child is killed and two are injured every 10 minutes during the war, turning Gaza into a "graveyard for children," according to the UN Secretary-General[7]. Over 300 medics, 161 UN staff, 130 journalists, frontline and human rights defenders, have also been killed[8], while dozens of families over five generations have been wiped out as Gaza continues to be struck with extreme forms of collective punishment, which is recognized as an international war crime[9]; According to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, “Over 9,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, including around 400 children and 215 women, as well as over 3,400 Palestinians held under administrative detention [without charges]”[10]

Whereas roughly 1,200 Israeli citizens were killed with over 200 Israeli citizens being kidnapped. These numbers consisted of civilians, including women and children, as well as security and police forces. Roughly 134 hostages remain in Gaza.

Whereas according to UN experts and Amnesty International, international humanitarian law forbids collective punishment, bombardment on civilian housing and infrastructure[11], evacuation of more than one million people to the South of Gaza where there is no food, water, or medicine[12], attacking of evacuation routes, and attacks on hospitals[13] in Gaza as all parties must abide by humanitarian obligations;

Whereas Amnesty International[14], Doctors without Borders[15], and Oxfam International[16] have called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza to end civilian suffering;

Whereas a bilateral humanitarian ceasefire will call for the end to the rising deaths, attacks, and bombardments on Gaza in order to allow humanitarian aid such as water, food, medical supplies, equipment, shelter etc. that will alleviate human suffering;

Whereas, bilateral is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as involving two groups or countries[17]. 

Resolved, that the San Diego State University Associated Students calls for a bilateral humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and release of all remaining hostages and unlawful detainees in Palestine and Israel; and calls upon San Diego State University to do the same; and let it be

Resolved, that the San Diego State University Associated Students promises for an environment that upholds diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in accordance to a supported bilateral humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; and calls upon San Diego State University to do the same; and let it be

Resolved, that San Diego State University Associated Students strongly condemns all acts of hate, violence, or discrimination targeted towards any SDSU community members based on their religious or ethnic identity and advocates for safety on campus; and calls upon San Diego State University to do the same; and let it be

Resolved, the urgency of a bilateral humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is necessary to uphold human dignity and life for the innocent civilians who have been subject to the increased levels of human suffering; and let it be

Resolved, that the Associated Students of San Diego State University shall exercise its ability to disseminate this resolution, calling for an unequivocal bilateral humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and release of all remaining hostages and unlawful detainees in Palestine and Israel, through the means of but not limited to; social media, emails, California State University Associated Students organizations, the CSU Chancellor’s Office, and President de la Torre. 

 

Approved by the A.S. University Council on February 28, 2024

 

References

  1. https://www.sdsu.edu/international-affairs/about/mission-and-vision
  2. https://www.sdsu.edu/strategic-plan
  3. https://main.hercjobs.org/profiles/1271856/san-diego-state-university/section-5
  4. https://as.sdsu.edu/about/
  5. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-reported-impact-27-february-2024-1500
  6. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2024/01/press-release-two-mothers-are-killed-in-gaza-every-hour-as-fighting-exceeds-100-days
  7. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/gaza-un-experts-call-international-community-prevent-genocide-against
  8. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-reported-impact-27-february-2024-1500
  9. https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/war-crimes.shtml
  10. https://ap.ohchr.org/Documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/55/NGO/82
  11. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/gaza-destroying-civilian-housing-and-infrastructure-international-crime
  12. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/gaza-destroying-civilian-housing-and-infrastructure-international-crime
  13. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/gaza-un-experts-decry-bombing-hospitals-and-schools-crimes-against-humanity
  14. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/israel-opt-urgent-call-for-an-immediate-ceasefire-by-all-parties-to-end-unprecedented-civilian-suffering/
  15. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/doctors-without-borders-calls-immediate-ceasefire-gaza
  16. https://www.oxfam.org/en/open-call-immediate-ceasefire-occupied-palestinian-territory
  17. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/bilateral